Laredo Church of The CrossRoads

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Can you imagine being trapped in a cold dark mine a half mile beneath the earth? Of all the fears we might have, being trapped in the dark would probably come close to the top ten or should I say bottom ten in this case? Being totally cut off from those you love or from anyone for that matter, totally lost and covered by an immeasurable amount of rock and dirt. Totally separated from light, air or seemingly even hope. This was the situation of the miners in Chile several months ago when their gold mine collapsed.
On the night the first rescue worker went down into that hole and until every miner and was brought back to the surface I think each of us held our breath around the world. Even jaded hardened journalists were mesmerized at the sight of each single person brought up out of the depths. For hours the world watched in awe and true joy as these men were being rescued. As each capsule being brought up was like the first in our sense of relief. Each man falling to his knees or hugging his family or singing or crying for joy was a collective call for celebration for all humanity regardless of nationality. It was truly one of those, WOW can you believe that kind of moments.
But what you might not have noticed was the t-shirts being worn by most of the men under their special jump suits. On it was written, Gracias Senor or, Thank You Lord and a scripture, Psalm 95:4. In whose hand are the depths of the earth. That scripture sums up the deep down prayer and hope for all people who have gone down into the depths and need to know that even there Gods hand can reach.
All of us are miners each in our own way. Each of us trying to dig out something worthwhile for our lives. Each of us digging for the gold that we think will bring purpose, and value to our existence. Among the miners was a diverse group of men some intellectual, some athletic, some out going, some introspective, but each willing to take a chance in life. But, on that day months ago when the mine collapsed each of them felt trapped and cut of from almost all hope. I cannot even begin to imagine what they felt for those 17 days before contact was made from the surface. And then the months of patience and trust that had to envelop them before their rescue just to keep them from going insane.
To me one of the most beautiful things in all of this was the willingness of people and nations across the globe to help these miners. Which reminds me of the body of Christ working at its best. Or of even the perfect symmetry of the God head, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this case such diverse groups as N.A.S.A. which normally has its focus on the stars was helping those lost in the depths. Or miners with special drills and new concepts in rescue operations or psychiatrists or mothers and fathers from all over the world who prayed and could connect with the families involved as they went through such an ordeal waiting for their family member. The collective talents and energy of the world worked hand in hand to rescue those who were trapped.
Let me ask you a question. In school did you ever have a teacher give you a, redo, calling you up to their desk and saying, Did you look carefully at questions number six, eleven and fourteen? You might want to go back and look a little deeper at those specific problems. Sadly, not always do we get a chance to do a, redo in life. Only when we have a teacher who truly cares do we at special moments get that unique opportunities at a second chance. That is what happened to each of those miners and though it is so very easy to fall back into our old ways our old thoughts and our old bad habits, but every once in awhile there is someone who takes advantage of the redo opportunity.
I think we all wish these miners well in their new lives. That they will never return to the depths, but that they will soar and find the joy and happiness that God desires for them and yes, that God desires of each of us. In the end I think that was why we all held our collective breath and were so overjoyed at seeing them set free. Because each of us wants to believe that, In His hands are the depths of the earth and that there is no length to which Christ would not go to rescue us from the cave-ins of life. So this month, let us know that no matter how deep you might feel in your own sense of entrapment, God can reach down and find a way to bring you out. In fact he will move heaven and earth to set you free, and not even the gates of hell can hold Him back from reaching you his precious children. GRACIAS SEOR! Go In Peace, Go in Love Go in Victory.

11:30am English Service
On the first Sunday of the month we combine for a bilingual service